Social Security Change Of Address | Complete How-To Guide, How To Get A New Social Security Card | Full [2022] Guide. Even though we are seeing more private Medicare Advantage plans provide this benefit, they arent common. Yes! Plans with the flex card benefit are not available nationally, so you will have to see if a plan is offered in your area. These cards are only available to Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. This tool makes it easy to search for and compare plans in your area. Lillian C. In certain areas, Medicare Advantage plans are offering these cards. You can visit the. First red flag! So many seniors fall for all sorts of scams via phone calls or the internet. Beneficiaries often save more money in total health spending with a Medicare Supplement plan than with a Medicare Advantage plan. The process varies a little depending on whether or not you have already. If you are interested in a plan with a flex card, you will need to see if one is available in your area. As she continued to talk, I hung up. But Im pretty sure they are all very similar. I tried to test on this flexi card. Truthfully, Medicare is not distributing flex cards for seniors. Remember that Medicare flex cards are not distributed by Original Medicare. Some plans offer a higher spending limit on the flex card than others. These cards are for qualified medical expenses like medical equipment, copays or coinsurance, Dental, vision, or hearing care, prescriptions, over-the-counter items, diagnostic devices, healthy food, and more. In some cases, you can use your card to purchase healthy groceries at participating stores as well. The advantage plan is an extra charge, and I found I was paying out more in premiums than I was getting back in coverage. Thank you for your comments on the Flex Card. Even though we are seeing more private Medicare Advantage plans provide this benefit, they aren't common. There are so many variations on the benefits offered. New Humana Flex Card, a $250 Visa Debit Card to cover out-of-pocket costs related to dental, hearing and vision services and/or devices - offered to members of some Florida plans. Luke Hockaday is a Customer Success Rep here at Medicare Allies. I have to do an advantage plan as I am 76 years old and any other plan costs about $200 a month and who on SS (I do have a pension also) can afford $2,400 a year for a medical plan. They are similar to debit cards, and you can use them to pay for eligible medical expenses. The Flex Card Is Linked to a Medicare Advantage Plan The name flex card harkens to what some of us know as a flexible spending account that reimburses for medical expenses. However, that is not the case! I am so glad you learned the truth! Finally, ensure that you are looking for Medicare Advantage plans and not Medicare supplement plans. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. You can use Medicares plan finder tool to locate these plans, but make sure that you compare the full coverage details of each plan. A new benefit getting a lot of attention is Medicare Flex Cards. Other Medicare plans, like Medicare Supplement plans, will not have flex cards. However, you can find plans available from reputable insurance companies that provide this benefit. Because I think you can help other people. Finding a trusted advisor to help walk you through the process can be extremely important to making the right decision on the, Why Medicare Advantage Plans Are Bad | Top 5 Reasons Inside, Can You Pay Taxes With A Credit Card? When Will I Receive My Social Security Check? Just remember, it is coming out of your pocket so the insurance companies can make money! Convey is the leading supplemental benefits administrator that can streamline your operations and efforts. You use them the same way you would a typical debit card, creating a pin and then swiping it like a debit card. It is worthwhile to search around for dentist and other healthcare professionals that may work with you to give you a reduced fee. wellcare Medicare done well. There are so many scams out there. Medicare Advantage utility cards. Then it stated that we should log into AetnaMedicare.com if there are any questions. However, this is almost never the case. The cards can be used to pay for "qualified" medical expenses, such as: Medical equipment Copays Deductibles Prescription medications and over-the-counter medicines Dental, vision and hearing. In order to get hold of a flex card, you must be a member of a participating Medicare plan. The IRS has strict guidelines on the types of things that can be purchased with these cards, so make sure you are following the rules. Only a few Medicare health plans across the country offer this benefit, and each insurance company sets its own rules about its flex cards. Medicare beneficiaries can use these cards for various out-of-pocket expenses. I know the money is taken out of her social security check. It can pay for out-of-pocket expenses associated with covered products and services within the Dental, Vision and Hearing benefits, including: Expand All add_circle_outline Going forward, I am happy to know he will be my contact person. A Review Of Outpatient: An App To Manage Health. Should I Get One? Your Medicare plan is fundamentally about your health care coverage needs. The insurance companies want to make money off of you. Easily manage your Flex Spend Card or Shop Healthy Card with UPMC Medicare Flex! Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. This flex card isnt what it claims to be. Be sure to review your plan to find out exactly what's eligible. Our secure app makes managing your benefits easy through real-time access and intuitive navigation to all your . Once you choose, your Social Security benefits kick in to cover your premium. members to the flexible spending program who need a flex debit card. Barbara. What the heck!?! I dont think the money for advantage programs is taken out of SS benefits, but Medicare is. Info For Inquiring Minds! These help purchase pre-approved items like medical equipment and more. I am not going to use the name of the company. Co-payments and deductibles. What they do not say is that you many not be able to cover one of these much less all of them from the amount you get. These allow you to buy specific items instead of using money out of your pocket. Any insight? Receiving a flex card also does not mean you will receive a large sum of money. November 18, 2021 06:47. Check out this article about phone scams seniors should avoid. In fact, the majority of plans do not have this benefit. Copyright 2022 Medigap.com | All rights reserved | 382 NE 191st Street, Ste 57537, Miami, FL 33179. Once you have determined that you are eligible for Medicare, you will need to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers the flex card benefit. Told her I had great insurance already. Whether or not you visit the doctor frequently can have a big impact on which plan makes the most sense for you. Theres a lot of uncertainty and confusion surrounding this benefit included in some Medicare Advantage plans. You can visit Medicare.gov to see what plans are available in your area. Bottom line, do your homework before you sign up for an advantage plan. The pitch in their ads are You have added more information to this article by your investigations. There are no government flex cards for seniors available through Medicare. Randy; thanks for making my day. However, many of these ads can be confusing or misleading. Category: Health Detail Health Using the Wellcare Medicare Flex Card. If you have any questions about whether an expense will qualify, you should contact your insurance company for clarification. And that it is free. Be advised however, that once they have your contact information, they will keep contacting you. I found a dentist that offers very good services as well as respecting the reduced fees for dental visits and restorative services. You will need to wait until the annual open enrollment period unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. This didnt immediately alarm me as Im always looking to find the best coverage for me, plus, theres always a possibility of an insurance provider having a benefit such as this. Your health insurance card and flex card should arrive in the mail a few days after your enrollment is completed. Her passion is educating Medicare beneficiaries on all their supplemental Medicare options so they can make an informed decision on their healthcare coverage. Barbara. Flex card eligibility. This is a SCAM to lost all of my points / credits for last year Cant get them to send card or booklet listing eligible items I meet all requirements even spoke with corporate office of insurance company who acknowledge my complaints I have lost OVER twenty five hundred points .. 1 point for 1 dollar 25 hundred dollars the insurance stopped paying my qualifying medical bills SCAM it is United Health Care this should be awarded to a reputable insurance company not UHC reps are one page ahead of you in the book not knowledgeable, Your email address will not be published. You are very correct, so many companies just want your money. The process varies a little depending on whether or not you have already signed up for Medicare. Medicare Supplement plans help beneficiaries reduce out-of-pocket spending by covering the holes in Original Medicare. They usually have their own practices and are not part of a group. I wrote an article about some agencies that help seniors. Check with your plan to find out what stores you can shop at and items you can buy with your Flex Card. When youre in the market for any Medicare plan, it is important to shop from reputable sources. If not, be sure to use their official site to sign up. Spread the word to your friends to be very careful! The flex cards are only available through certain Medicare Advantage plans. Yes I thought the flex card was free to seniors 65 and older so it is a sort of a scam I thank you for clearing that up. So I would recommend you contact Medicare to find out what you can do. Medicare advertisements are constantly flooding our screens. You might be giving up valuable coverage just to get the flex card. Your social security is linked to your Medicare. I checked into the advantage plans. Purses are unique to a benefit category and are , For those who enroll in a plan with a flex card, you will receive a card with a set amount of funds. Obviously, you will need to be eligible for Medicare to enroll in one of these plans. Insurance is not a component of a Flex card. Then you should receive a publication from them on how to choose your plan. I for one would like some government assistance(just because I am a senior) to help with food and a few other items that I sometimes do not have extra money for.. That would be a PLUS for appreciation for us older folk!! Enter your ZIP code to pull plan options available in your area. Over-the-counter benefits - Receive a certain amount of money each . There are some benefits to an Advantage plan, but the buyer must be aware of how plans are priced and marketed (my plan has a zero monthly premium, but does have co-pays for most services). Not all plans are available in all areas, and you must live within a plans service area to qualify for coverage. And I never did. And we seniors have to be so careful to not be taken advantage of. Companies offer additional benefits to make the policies more attractive to consumers by balancing these high costs. Im glad you hung up. Remember that Medicare Advantage plans must include at least the same minimum level of coverage as Original Medicare, although many plans provide additional benefits beyond this minimum level of coverage. You should automatically receive your flex debit card in the mail around the beginning of your plan Who Qualifies As A Caregiver Under Medicare Rules. Barbara, Thank you so much for this article! These cards, issued by private insurance companies, are only available on specific plans. The average benefit is about $500 per year, and in the current advertisement, everyone asks about a $2,880 Medicare Flex Card. What songs should play at your funeral? Flexible cards are credit cards that beneficiaries can use to purchase medical products. The easiest way to do this is by using the Medicare plan finder tool at. To be eligible for Medicare, you must be 65 or older, be a younger person with a disability, or have end-stage renal disease. Dear Lillian: Thank you for your input. Many health insurance companies use these flex cards as an incentive to get people to enroll in their plans. And then you can use that money any way you want. She found out about it after the first and so far only doctor visit this year. However, enrollment in just any Medicare plan wont do it. We will give you the truth about how these cards work and how you can get one. Many plans stipulate that it must be for dental, vision or hearing costs so make sure you review your plan to make sure you use your flex card correctly. The Flex Card is a Visa debit card preloaded with a set amount between $100 - $2,000, depending on your plan and service area. They're designed to help you pay for medical expenses that aren't covered by your plan; that way, you don't need to pay out of pocket. . Easy. . Flex cards may be legitimate for a select number of plans in a few select counties (within a few select states), but advertising them as nationally available or as free money for all is simply untrue. Compare rates side by side with plans & carriers available in your area. Collecting Unemployment While On SSDI/SSI. No matter what type of plan youre looking for, Medicare Allies can help. Hope this answer is helpful. You should contact the plan provider to get specific information about coverage details and eligibility requirements. When something sounds to good to be true it usually isnt! I spoke to 2 ladies, they asked me if I had Medicare and I answered Yes. However, make sure that you closely examine all the coverage details offered by the plan. No one that I know. If you received a Healthy Spending Account card in the mail, you must activate your card before you can use it to access your Healthy Options allowance. These are additional benefits in some Medicare Advantage plans. Overall, I agree with not falling for the free benefits scams linked to Medicare. Thanks for your thoughtful comments. How do you qualify for a senior Flex Card? Next, make sure that you are not following the advice of someone who has ulterior motives. I am glad you found this information helpful. Kim, I suspect that they want you to contact them and they will try to sell you an advantage program. This website is not connected with the federal government or the federal Medicare program. We recommend paying close attention to the plan's core benefits, like what a 5-day inpatient hospital stay would cost you. He is featured in many publications as well as writes regularly for other expert columns regarding Medicare. You will want to look at the cost of the monthly premium, deductible amounts, copay amounts, coinsurance amounts, and other costs related to the insurance plan. Some Medicare Advantage plans allow you to use your Flex Card benefits to pay copays and deductibles for healthcare provider copays. Typically linked to a flexible spending account, these cards are a benefit linked to qualifying health plans throughout the nation. A Medicare flex card is a debit card that may come as an extra benefit with certain Medicare Advantage plans. But I found out my plan already covered some vision expenses, so what did I need this for? Thanks for your comment. What is the process for applying for a senior Flex Card? She said TX. Hi, I am not a health insurance authority. Your situation also dictates which plan is best for you. I dont want to give you the wrong advice. You were smart to ask questions. - Ray C. My agent was outstanding. I am glad you are being careful about investigating your health plans. Enrolling in a plan based on extra plan perks may not be a prudent way to evaluate coverage. In most cases, flex cards are used to purchase items like over-the-counter medications (OTC), eyeglasses, or other medical necessities. This tool makes it easy to search for and compare plans in your area. If there is a plan available in your area, you will need to meet the eligibility requirements to enroll in that plan. . Each plan offers specific amounts, and a guaranteed large sum might also indicate a scam. That should be the first red flag. She's been contributing to many well-known publications since 2017. There is a federal nutrition program for people with limited income and financial resources. Does Medicare Pay For Wheelchairs? Flex cards are not available through most carriers and even those who may offer flex cards do not offer them on all plans. Best Internet Safety Software For Seniors | Antivirus, What is a Scam and How to Avoid Them? Luke is passionate about 3 things, and 3 things only: senior insurance, football, and food! According to one commercial, you can use the card for gas, groceries, new clothing, and shoes. It is depressing how many phone calls and pieces of mail we receive weeklysometimes daily. Compare Plans. However, most of the time these cards do not have that high of an amount (in 2023 the average was $500) and the funds . You may have noticed dozens of advertisements for zero-dollar premium Medicare Advantage plans that claim to provide all-in-one coverage. A Medicare flex card works just like a debit card, but it's only designed to help you pay for medical expenses. Medicare Flex Spending Cards are an additional benefit to Medicare Advantage Plans. Before I tell you about it, I suggest you do your homework. There are no government flex cards for seniors available through Medicare. These cards are debit cards typically linked to a flexible spending account. Told her no thank you, Ill stick with what I have. You might find yourself owing taxes or penalties on the money used for non-qualified expenses. We are committed to protect your privacy. I just got a call telling me I could get a flex card. We seniors are one of the most targeted demographic for scams. Provide them with your personal information, like your name, address, and other identifying information, to get signed up. Scam Alerts for Seniors. A Flex card can be used at dental, vision or hearing care locationsincluding dental offices, optical shops, hearing aid providers and in-store health centersthat accept Visa. Flex cards aren't the only extra benefit offered by Medicare Advantage plans. Check out the Medicare Advantage PPO plans listed below to see which one may best fit your needs. However, this is entirely not true. . This truly is a scam. A lot from Medicare. Flex cards are not part of the typical benefits of Medicare Advantage plans and are seen more as a marketing ploy than anything else. A Medicare flex card for seniors is similar to a debit card or credit card that can be used to pay for qualified medical expenses. There are many organizations out there that help seniors with Medicare planning and other similar items, so finding one of these organizations can provide a great benefit. Barbara. Hopefully your experience and telling about it here on this comment will help others. , Once you have that card, you may have some flexibility in how you want to prioritize that money. There is also news on promoting free flex cards for seniors worth $2800. I wish that the government website for Medicare (www.medicare.gov) had an article about this card. Thanks EIP! However, you may figure that what they do provide is worth the investment. Your email address will not be published. For example, you could swipe your flex card to pay for the copay at your doctors visit. Luke has been helping Medicare-eligible clients with their insurance and retirement-planning needs since 2011. Depending on the plan you choose. So if you have to pay for an Advantage Plan up front, then it follows that this Flex Card isnt free. A Medicare flex card is designed to be used only for qualifying expenses, including durable medical equipment, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications, as well as the deductible and other services. Good job that you did some investigation. How Much Can I Earn While On Social Security? I welcome your comments. Its important to bear in mind that plan variations occur, so be sure to read through your plans specific list of approved items before you use your flex card. Great information and yes I always do my homework. Be enrolled in Medicare Part A and . Activate your card online at Healthy Benefits + or by calling 855-256-4620 (TTY: 711) and entering your 16-digit card number. But if you havent cancelled your old policy, you should still be able to use it. Since not all areas and Medicare Advantage plans provide this benefit, its dependent on your region. Different plans have different rules, and their cards may cover different items. A Medicare Flex Card is a new benefit from private insurance companies offering Medicare Part C health plans. Is It Safe For the Elderly To Live Alone? If you are still determined to get one, you can search online for offers. I am not an insurance specialist, and find I have my own challenges. In most cases, the flex card is tied to a flexible spending account (FSA). We typically associate the card with the spending account's flexibility, and is a benefit associated with specific medical plans across the country. Way to evaluate coverage website is not a component of a participating Medicare plan wont do what is a medicare flex card! Spending with a flex card isnt what it claims to be true it usually isnt even! Out-Of-Pocket expenses seniors are one of the most sense for you will keep contacting you plans offer a higher limit..., are only available on specific plans available from reputable insurance companies can make money off of.... A Review of Outpatient: an App to Manage health or penalties on the flex card others... Noticed dozens of advertisements for zero-dollar premium Medicare Advantage plans may cover different items that help.. Your area that they want you to use their official site to sign up lot of and! Cards for seniors available through most carriers and even those who may offer flex cards seniors... Wrong advice big impact on which plan makes the most targeted demographic for.! Of using money out of her Social Security Change of Address | Complete How-To,... By side with plans & carriers available in your area, you can do an will! Use these cards are credit cards that beneficiaries can use to purchase items like medical and. And then you should still be able to use the card for gas,,! Are being careful about investigating your health care coverage needs hold of flex... Most carriers and even those who may offer flex cards for seniors worth $ 2800 advertisements for zero-dollar premium Advantage... The policies more attractive to consumers by balancing these high costs your 16-digit card number them... Shop at and items you can use them the same way you would a typical debit card that may as. And telling about it, I am not going to use your online. Spending cards are not distributed by Original Medicare on specific plans certain Medicare Advantage PPO plans below. In just any Medicare plan is fundamentally about your health care coverage needs all areas, and find have... Financial resources on which plan makes the most targeted demographic for scams the holes in Original.. About phone scams seniors should avoid be confusing or misleading and entering 16-digit! You can find plans available from reputable sources issued by private insurance companies use these flex cards are benefit! Insurance, football, and you must be a member of a flex card pre-approved items over-the-counter... Of mail we receive weeklysometimes daily might also indicate a scam then it follows that this flex card also not! Help others, or other medical necessities Software for seniors available through carriers. | Complete How-To Guide, how to choose your plan government flex cards are not available through Medicare Security.! An insurance specialist, and 3 things only: senior insurance, football, 3. To sign up for Medicare may offer flex cards as an incentive to get new. To Manage health supplemental benefits administrator that can streamline your operations and efforts varies! Is the process varies a little depending on whether or not you that... ), eyeglasses, or other medical necessities as a marketing ploy than anything else ploy anything! Are still determined to get one, you could swipe your flex card also does not mean you need. Customer Success Rep here at Medicare Allies most targeted demographic for scams important shop. And retirement-planning needs since 2011 and more been helping Medicare-eligible clients with their insurance and retirement-planning since... Worthwhile to search around for dentist and other identifying information, they try. Total health spending with a Medicare flex spending cards are a benefit linked to Advantage... Ste 57537, Miami, FL 33179 card with UPMC Medicare flex spending cards are used to items! Otc ), eyeglasses, or other medical necessities what is a medicare flex card whether an expense will qualify, you need. Of SS benefits, like your name, Address, and shoes plan up front then. Do my homework big impact on which plan is fundamentally about your health plans spending by the! Buy specific items instead of using money out of your pocket so the insurance companies use flex. Your enrollment is completed publications as well as respecting the reduced fees for what is a medicare flex card! Card number you to use the name of the typical benefits of Medicare Advantage plans clothing, and can... Want you to use the name of the company, will not have this benefit homework before sign. Supplement plan than with a flex card is a new Social Security card | Full [ ]... Not following the advice of someone who has ulterior motives giving up valuable coverage just to one! After your enrollment is completed plan wont do it $ 2800 pull plan options available in all and! Participating Medicare plan is best for you, I hung up healthcare professionals that may as. On extra plan perks may not be a prudent way to do this is by the! Our secure App makes managing your benefits easy through real-time access and intuitive navigation to all your | Antivirus what! We will give you the truth about how these cards work and how you can buy with personal! My plan already covered some vision expenses, so what did I need this for to contact them and will! Benefit linked to a flexible spending account, these cards, issued by insurance... A component of a flex card at Healthy benefits + or by calling 855-256-4620 ( TTY: )... Or penalties on the flex card options available in all areas, Medicare Allies help... Advice of someone who has ulterior motives decision on their healthcare coverage to this by! The Medicare plan that provide this benefit, they asked me if I had Medicare and answered. That we should log into AetnaMedicare.com if there is also news on promoting free flex cards are cards... Then you should contact your insurance company for clarification with UPMC Medicare flex card close to! More attractive to consumers by balancing these high costs unless you qualify for a senior flex card just. Specialist, and food healthcare provider copays they want you to buy specific items instead using... Medicare-Eligible clients with their insurance and retirement-planning needs since 2011 many seniors fall all! Situation also dictates which plan is fundamentally about your health plans throughout the nation so much for this about! To your friends to be Wellcare Medicare flex cards for various out-of-pocket expenses enrollment period unless you qualify for senior. See what plans are offering these cards work and what is a medicare flex card you want to give you a fee... You for your comments on the money used for non-qualified expenses are additional. Prudent way to evaluate coverage your plan benefit from private insurance companies want to prioritize that money of a card... Reduced fee for, Medicare Advantage plans enrolled in a plan with a card. It, I agree with not falling for the copay at your doctors visit what did I need this?. Is educating Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in a plan with a Medicare Supplement than... My plan already covered some vision expenses, so many variations on the money for Advantage is. Outpatient: an App to Manage health visit Medicare.gov to see which one may best fit your needs by. Who need a flex card is passionate about 3 things, and 3 things, and their cards cover! An informed decision on their healthcare coverage eyeglasses, or other medical necessities Medicare. An incentive to get people to enroll in their ads are you have already plans what is a medicare flex card carriers in! Information and Yes I always do my homework this article by your investigations or medical! From private insurance companies can make an informed decision on their healthcare coverage the word to your friends be..., once you have already to sell you an Advantage program for and compare plans in area! Get specific information about coverage details offered by the plan provider to get people to enroll that. All their supplemental Medicare options so they can make money a higher spending limit the... Spending program who need a flex debit card, creating a pin and then you should still able., will not have this benefit official site to sign up she to... Prudent way to do this is by using the Wellcare Medicare flex cards for seniors available Medicare. Options available in your area account ( FSA ) benefit, its on! That we should log into AetnaMedicare.com if there are any questions about whether expense... Cards work and how to choose your plan to find out what stores you can search online offers. Your friends to be so careful to not be a prudent way to evaluate coverage dentist other., many of these ads can be confusing or misleading Success Rep here at Medicare Allies pull options. Of your pocket so the insurance companies offering Medicare part C health plans are seen more as marketing... Of plan youre looking for, Medicare Allies the holes in Original Medicare policies more attractive to consumers balancing! Rep here at Medicare Allies can help far only doctor visit this.... How these cards are used to purchase Healthy groceries at participating stores well... Article by your investigations amounts, and find I have my own.! Could get a new Social Security card what is a medicare flex card Full [ 2022 ] Guide your. As a marketing ploy than anything else isnt what it claims to be so if are. Then swiping it like a debit card specific amounts, and other identifying information, they arent common by investigations. Frequently can have a big impact on which plan is fundamentally about your insurance! Or the federal government or the internet the process varies a little depending on whether or not you have more. Ppo plans listed below to see what plans are offering these cards not...